Connection between a brace rail and a fence post

ABSTRACT

A connection between a corner fence post having two longitudinal sides arranged at right angles to one another, a short side connected to the free end of each longitudinal side at right angles thereto, and an inwardly extending flange attached to each side at right angles thereto, and an inwardly extending flange attached to each side at right angles thereto with a vertical opening between the ends of the flange and a brace rail arranged at an angle other than 90* to the fence post includes a sleeve shaped to receive the end of the rail and a pin attached to the outer end of the sleeve. The pin is adapted to be received in an over-sized hole in the post. In some instances the hole may be in the post proper, but in most instances it will be in a square tubular attachment to the post. Each of the flanges has a notch in its end aligned with the notch of the other flange and the tubular attachment has top and bottom outwardly extending lugs on two adjacent sides which extend into the aligned notches with these adjacent sides bearing against the flanges. The over-sized holes are provided in each of the other two sides of the tubular member. An angle having a threaded hole therethrough at the junction between its legs is positioned within the post with its legs bearing against the flanges. The tubular member has a hole therein in alignment with this threaded hole and a screw passing through that hole into threaded engagement with the threaded hole holds the angular member against the flanges.

United States Patent Ashworth [54] CONNECTION BETWEEN A BRACE RAIL AND AFENCE POST [72] Inventor: James E. Ashworth, Moraga, Calif.

[73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation [22] Filed: May 13, 1971[21] Appl. No.: 142,866

52 US. Cl ..256/35 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04h 17/02 [58] Field of Search..256/6570, 59, 256/35, 36, 32

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,976,021 3/1961 Stefan..256/35 X 1,795,728 3/1931 Maserang ..256/35 2,199,518 5/1940 Coleman..256/35 3,02l,l 14 2/ 1962 OConnell ..256/24 3,389,930 6/1968 Ashworthet al.....-....256/65 X Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor AttorneyMartinJ. Carroll [57] ABSTRACT A connection between a corner fence post havingtwo [1 1 3,685,802 4 1 Aug. 22, 1972 longitudinal sides arranged atright angles to one another, a short side connected to the free end ofeach longitudinal side at right angles thereto, and an inwardlyextending flange attached to each side at right angles thereto, and aninwardly extending flange attached to each side at right angles theretowith a vertical opening between the ends of the flange and a brace railarranged at an angle other than 90 to the fence post includes a sleeveshaped to receive the end of the rail and a pin attached to the outerend of the sleeve. The pin is adapted to be received in an oversizedhole in the post. In some instances the hole may be in the post proper,but inmost instancesit will be in a square tubular attachment to thepost. Each of the flanges has a notch in its end aligned with the notchof I the other flange and the tubular attachment has top and bottomoutwardly extending lugs on two adjacent sides which extend into thealigned notches with these the flanges. The tubular member has a holetherein in alignment with this threaded hole and a screw passing throughthat hole into threaded engagement with the threaded hole holds theangular member against the flanges.

8 Clains, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAUBZZ I912 3,685,802

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INVEN TOR. JAMES E. ASHWOR TH mza a 444 4,

Attorney CONNECTION BETWEEN A BRACE RAIL AND A FENCE POST This inventionrelates to a connection between a brace rail and a fence post and, moreparticularly, to such a connection to a fence post of the type shown inAshworth et al US. Patent No. 3,370,836 dated Feb. 27, 1968. Prior to myinvention, various expedients were used to connect a brace rail to thistype of post. None of these was satisfactory for various reasons, suchas being unsightly and/or weak. No problem was involved when the railwas horizontal and perpendicular to a side of the post. However, whenthe rail was not horizontal and/or was not perpendicular to the side ofthe post, it was extremely difficult to get a good connection with thepost. In such a connection the erectors used their own ingenuity to makethe connection, but their solutions were such that the purchaser of thefence objected in many instances.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a relativelysimple, inexpensive and strong connection between a brace rail and afence post in which the brace rail may be arranged at any angle to thepost.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings, in which: a

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing my connection between a brace rail anda corner post with the other end of the rail being connected to a linepost;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing details of the connection;

FIG. 4 is an end view of a fitting used in my connection;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the fitting of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tubular member forming part of theconnection.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2indicates an L-shaped comer post having two sides 4 arranged at rightangles to one another, a short side 6 connected to the free end of eachside 4 and arranged at right angles thereto, and an inwardly extendingflange 8 attached to and arranged at right angles to each side 6 withvertically spaced notches 9 being provided in the end of each flange 8with the notches in one flange aligned with the notches in the otherflange. A vertical opening 10 is provided between the ends of flanges 8.According to my invention, I provide a rectangular end cup 12 which hasa sleeve or receptacle 14 for receiving a trigonal rail 16 of the typeshown in my above mentioned patent. When used with other types of rails,it only being necessary that the receptacle 14 be shaped to conform tothe shape of the rail or to the shape of the end of the rail. Attachedto the receptacle 14 is a bracket 18 having a cylindrical pin 20attached thereto with its axis in alignment with the axis of receptacle14. The top of the bracket 18 is frusto spherical as shown in FIG. 5 forbest operation. In some instances, such as shown in broken lines in FIG.1, it is only necessary to provide a hole 22 in one of the sides 4 withthe size of the hole being somewhat larger than the diameter of the pin20 so that the axis of the pin can be at an angle to the axis of thehole. Since the rail 16 is always in compression, it is impossible forthe pin 20 to slip from the hole 22.

I Since the fence fabric 24 is attached to apertures 25 on the sides 6,the brace rails are preferably attached to the post inside the fabric24. To accomplish this, l provide a short angle 26 having a threadedhole 28 extending therethrough at the junction between the legs of theangle with the axis of the hole 28 being at an angle of 45 with each ofthe legs of the angle. I also provide a rectangular, preferably asquare, tubular member 30 having top and bottom outwardly extending lugs32 on two adjacent sides thereof. A hole 34 is provided in each of theother two sides of tubular member 30 intermediate its height. A hole 36is provided in the comer of the member 30 between the sides having thelugs 32' thereon and a hole 38 is provided in the diagonally oppositecomer with the axes of the holes 36 and 38 being in alignment. Theheight of the member 30 is slightly less than the height of notches 9.

The members 26 and 30 are assembled on the post, as follows: The angle26 is placed within the post 2 with its legs bearing against the flanges8. The member 30 is placed against the outside of the post 2 with itslugs 32 being received in two aligned notches 9 in the flanges 8, thuspositioning the member 30 at the desired elevation. In this position theholes 36 and 38 as best shown in FIG. 3 will be in axial alignment withthe hole 28 in angle 26. A counter-sunk head cap screw 42 passes throughhole 36 and is threaded into the hole 28. The head of the screw 42 ispreferably provided with an Allen head so that the screw 42 can beeasilyfightened to hold the members 26 and 30 in secure position againstthe flanges 8. This is done by inserting an Allen wrench through theopening 38. A rail 16 with anend cup 12 attached thereto can then beinserted into either or both openings 34 as shown in FIG. 3. Due to thesize of openings 34, the rail 16 can be arranged at various angles asshown.

In some instances an end cup 12 will be attached to the other end of abrace rail 16 with the length of brace rail 16 being so selected thatthe pin 20 of the end cup 12 at the lower end of brace rail 16 can bereceived in an opening 44 in the web of an adjacent line post 46 asshown in FIG. 2.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A connection between a brace rail and an L- shaped fence post, saidpost having two connected long sides, a short side connected to the freeend of each of said long sides and extending in substantially the samedirection as the other of said long sides, and an inwardly extendingflange attached to each of said short sides; said connection comprisingatubular member having a hole through the wall thereof, means connectingsaid tubular member to said flanges on the outside thereof, an end cupincluding a sleeve shaped to receive the end of the rail, and a pinattached to the outer end of said sleeve and adapted to be received insaid hole. I

2. A connection according to claim 1 in which said two long sides arearranged at right angles to one another, and in which each of saidflanges is at right angles to the short side to which it is attachedwith a vertical opening between the ends of said flanges.

3. A connection between a brace rail and a fence post, said fence posthaving two long sides arranged at right angles to one another, a shortside connected to the free end of each long side at right anglesthereto, and an inwardly extending flange attached to each short side atright angles thereto with a vertical opening between the ends of saidflanges, each flange having a notch in-its end aligned with the notch ofthe other flange, said connection comprising a tubular member secured tosaid post and bearing against the outside of said flanges, saidtubularmember having a hole therein,

angle within said post with its legs bearing against said flanges, saidangle having a threaded hole therethrough at the junction between itslegs, said tubular member having a hole therein in alignment with saidthreaded hole, and a screw passing through said last named hole j intothreaded engagement with said threaded hole to hold the angle andtubular member against said flanges.

6. A connection according to claim 3- in which said end cup includes agenerally conical bracket having its baseattached to said sleeve, and afrusto-spherical top connected to said pin. a

7. A connection according to claim 6 in which said tubular member issquare in horizontal section and includes top and bottom outwardlyextending lugs on two adjacent sides extending into said alignednotches, the

other two sides of said tubular member each having a pin receiving holetherein of substantially largercr'oss section than said pin.

8. A connection according to claim 7 including an angle withinsaidpostwith its legs bearing against said flanges, said angle having a threadedhole the'rethrough I at the junction between its legs,said tubularmember having a hole therein in'alignment with said threaded hole, and ascrew passing through said last named hole into threaded engagement withsaid threaded hole to hold the angle and tubular member against saidflanges.

1. A connection between a brace rail and an L-shaped fence post, said post having two connected long sides, a short side connected to the free end of each of said long sides and extending in substantially the same direction as the other of said long sides, and an inwardLy extending flange attached to each of said short sides; said connection comprising a tubular member having a hole through the wall thereof, means connecting said tubular member to said flanges on the outside thereof, an end cup including a sleeve shaped to receive the end of the rail, and a pin attached to the outer end of said sleeve and adapted to be received in said hole.
 2. A connection according to claim 1 in which said two long sides are arranged at right angles to one another, and in which each of said flanges is at right angles to the short side to which it is attached with a vertical opening between the ends of said flanges.
 3. A connection between a brace rail and a fence post, said fence post having two long sides arranged at right angles to one another, a short side connected to the free end of each long side at right angles thereto, and an inwardly extending flange attached to each short side at right angles thereto with a vertical opening between the ends of said flanges, each flange having a notch in its end aligned with the notch of the other flange, said connection comprising a tubular member secured to said post and bearing against the outside of said flanges, said tubular member having a hole therein, an end cup including a sleeve shaped to receive the end of the rail, and a pin attached to the outer end of said sleeve and adapted to be received in said hole.
 4. A connection according to claim 3 in which said tubular member is square in horizontal section and includes top and bottom outwardly extending lugs on two adjacent sides extending into said aligned notches, the other two sides of said tubular member each having a pin receiving hole therein of substantially larger cross section than said pin.
 5. A connection according to claim 4 including an angle within said post with its legs bearing against said flanges, said angle having a threaded hole therethrough at the junction between its legs, said tubular member having a hole therein in alignment with said threaded hole, and a screw passing through said last named hole into threaded engagement with said threaded hole to hold the angle and tubular member against said flanges.
 6. A connection according to claim 3 in which said end cup includes a generally conical bracket having its base attached to said sleeve, and a frusto-spherical top connected to said pin.
 7. A connection according to claim 6 in which said tubular member is square in horizontal section and includes top and bottom outwardly extending lugs on two adjacent sides extending into said aligned notches, the other two sides of said tubular member each having a pin receiving hole therein of substantially larger cross section than said pin.
 8. A connection according to claim 7 including an angle within said post with its legs bearing against said flanges, said angle having a threaded hole therethrough at the junction between its legs, said tubular member having a hole therein in alignment with said threaded hole, and a screw passing through said last named hole into threaded engagement with said threaded hole to hold the angle and tubular member against said flanges. 